Japanese cruiser Kumano

Kumano in October 1938
History
Empire of Japan
Name:	Kumano
Namesake:	Kumano River in Wakayama Prefecture
Builder:	Kawasaki Shipyards, Kobe, Japan
Laid down:	4 April 1934
Launched:	15 October 1936
Completed:	31 October 1937
Fate:	Sunk, 25 November 1944
General characteristics
Class and type:	Mogami-class cruiser
Displacement:	13,440 long tons (13,660 t) (full load)
Length:	201.6 m (661 ft 5 in)
Beam:	22 m (72 ft 2 in)
Draft:	5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Installed power:	152,000 shp (113,000 kW)
Propulsion:	4 × impulse single-geared steam turbines 10 × Kampon boilers 4 × shafts
Speed:	35 kn (40 mph; 65 km/h)
Complement:	850
Armament:	As Built:15 × 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type naval gun (5×3) 8× 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval guns (4x2) 4 × 40 mm (1.57 in) anti-aircraft guns 12 × 610 mm (24 in) Type 93 torpedoes (4 × 3 tube rotating launchers + 12 reloads) Final: 10 × 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval guns (3x2) 8 × 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun (4×2) 50× Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun s 12 × Type 93 torpedoes (4 × 3 tube rotating launchers + 12 reloads)
Armor:	Belt: 10 cm (3.9 in) Deck: 3.5 cm (1.4 in) Turrets: 2.5 cm (1.0 in) Magazines: 12.7 cm (5.0 in)
Aircraft carried:	3 × Aichi E13A (Type 1) reconnaissance floatplanes
Aviation facilities:	2 × catapults

Kumano (熊野^?) was one of four Mogami class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy, serving in World War II. She was named after the Kumano River Kii Peninsula on the island of Honshu in central Japan. The Mogami-class ships were constructed as "light cruisers" (per the Washington Naval Treaty) with five triple 6.1-inch dual purpose guns. They were exceptionally large for light cruisers, and the barbettes for the main battery were designed for quick refitting with twin 8-inch guns. In 1937 all four ships were "converted" to heavy cruisers in this fashion.Kumano served in numerous combat engagements in the Pacific War, until she was eventually sunk by carrier aircraft from Task Force 38 while she was undergoing repairs at Santa Cruz, Philippines in November, 1944.

Built under the Maru-1 Naval Armaments Supplement Programme, the Mogami-class cruisers were designed to the maximum limits allowed by the Washington Naval Treaty, using the latest technology. This resulted in the choice of the dual purpose (DP) 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type naval guns as the main battery in five triple turrets capable of 55° elevation. These were the first Japanese cruisers with triple turrets. Secondary armament included eight 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval guns in four twin turrets, and 24 Type 93 Long Lance torpedoes in four rotating quadruple mounts.